Celtics (21-19) at Clippers (13-15) 3/12

[hpantazo]

with the lack of big men going into this game, I expect Griffin to rip us a new one tonight

[bostonman1]

Suprised that many are discounting the Celtics chances in this game.

For a road back to back this is about as good a situation the Celtics could ask for.  The C's played early yesterday and have a late game tonight.  The road team Celtics didn't even have to travel for this game which almost never happens during the NBA regular season.

The size disadvantage obviously is huge but it's not like the Clippers have a Gasol and Bynum patrolling the paint.  Jordan can block shots and rebounds well but is not a good offensive player by any stretch. 

If Rondo can neutralize Paul and the C's just don't get obliterated again on the boards then this is a very winnable game against a struggling Clipper team...

[thestackshow]

Suprised that many are discounting the Celtics chances in this game.

For a road back to back this is about as good a situation the Celtics could ask for.  The C's played early yesterday and have a late game tonight.  The road team Celtics didn't even have to travel for this game which almost never happens during the NBA regular season.

The size disadvantage obviously is huge but it's not like the Clippers have a Gasol and Bynum patrolling the paint.  Jordan can block shots and rebounds well but is not a good offensive player by any stretch.  

If Rondo can neutralize Paul and the C's just don't get obliterated again on the boards then this is a very winnable game against a struggling Clipper team...

Jordan is a GREAT offensive player...when he faces teams with no interior presence like the current Celtics. Last time we faced the clippers, Jordan had like 20 points, with half of them coming off of Lobs and dunks, that was last year when they didnt even have chris paul.

The only thing protecting the rim and the paint against Jordan/Griffin, aka the two most athletic big men in the entire league is....a 36 year old tired Kevin Garnett.

Outlook is grim.

[bostonman1]

Suprised that many are discounting the Celtics chances in this game.

For a road back to back this is about as good a situation the Celtics could ask for.  The C's played early yesterday and have a late game tonight.  The road team Celtics didn't even have to travel for this game which almost never happens during the NBA regular season.

The size disadvantage obviously is huge but it's not like the Clippers have a Gasol and Bynum patrolling the paint.  Jordan can block shots and rebounds well but is not a good offensive player by any stretch.  

If Rondo can neutralize Paul and the C's just don't get obliterated again on the boards then this is a very winnable game against a struggling Clipper team...

Jordan is a GREAT offensive player...when he faces teams with no interior presence like the current Celtics. Last time we faced the clippers, Jordan had like 20 points, with half of them coming off of Lobs and dunks, that was last year when they didnt even have chris paul.

The only thing protecting the rim and the paint against Jordan/Griffin, aka the two most athletic big men in the entire league is....a 36 year old tired Kevin Garnett.

Outlook is grim.

The Celtics are shorthanded in the middle but facing Deandre Jordan at center is about the best we could hope for.

Jordan is nowhere near a great offensive player in any circumstance.  In two games against the Celtics when they had Kristic at center he scored 4 points then 21.  21 points was a fluke as it was his highest total for the entire regular season.  Jordan has averaged only 6 PPG for his career including 7 PPG the last two seasons.  He has scored 20 points or more only 4 times in his entire 242 game career or basically once in every 60 games.   Those stats actually show he is a terrible offensive center...

[bostonpatriot]

Is Stiemsma playing or not? Does anyone know?

Garnett+Bass should be able to handle Griffin+Jordan.

The problem will be the rebounding. They're one of the best rebounding teams in the league - Kenyon Martin is the only of their bigs who isn't an elite rebounder (Griffin, Jordan, Evans). The Celtics is one of the poorest ones. Big advantage for them.

Ray Allen should be able to have a big game though. 

[Celtics18]

Is Stiemsma playing or not? Does anyone know?

I think he'll play, and I think he'll play well.

Dickerson just reported that Doc said that Stiemsma will have to play a lot minutes as they "don't have anybody else."   JJ?

[LooseCannon]

Jordan is a GREAT offensive player...when he faces teams with no interior presence like the current Celtics. Last time we faced the clippers, Jordan had like 20 points, with half of them coming off of Lobs and dunks, that was last year when they didnt even have chris paul.

Jordan has yet to score 20 points in a game this season, so I guess every other team has interior presence.  The Clippers have yet to play the Celtics this season.  Last season, they played twice.  Jordan scored 21 points in one game, 4 in the other, but looking at the box scores, it seems like the key reason in why one was a win and the other was a loss was that the Celtics got to the line 20 times more and the Clippers shot worse on jump shots when Boston won.

[Kiorrik]

From over at ClipsNation.com :

boston fans outnumbering clips fans

It feels like a 80-20 split here in Staples in boston’s favor. Thought maybe these days were over. Guess not. Love the crowd booing the clips as they came out for their pre game warm ups right now.

[BASS_THUMPER]

knicks should be way better than tis

[bostonpatriot]

knicks should be way better than tis

I thought they had a good game today. Chandler coming back helps them quite a bit.

I do agree they should have a better record. They will be tied with the Bucks after tonight with a much harder schedule to play. Very plausible they may miss the playoffs. That would be really surprising.

[bostonman1]

Jordan is a GREAT offensive player...when he faces teams with no interior presence like the current Celtics. Last time we faced the clippers, Jordan had like 20 points, with half of them coming off of Lobs and dunks, that was last year when they didnt even have chris paul.

Jordan has yet to score 20 points in a game this season, so I guess every other team has interior presence.  The Clippers have yet to play the Celtics this season.  Last season, they played twice.  Jordan scored 21 points in one game, 4 in the other, but looking at the box scores, it seems like the key reason in why one was a win and the other was a loss was that the Celtics got to the line 20 times more and the Clippers shot worse on jump shots when Boston won.

Yeah the facts actually show Jordan is a terrible offensive center, I posted a few more stats a couple posts before yours that illustrate this even further

[apc]

come on Knicks, you lost. stop fouling

[SHAQATTACK]

I wonder if there will be a bit of Alpha dog going on between  CP3 and Rondo

[Chief]

i'm tired.

[BASS_THUMPER]

capt!!